Hydraulic swivel.



No. 810,315, PATENTBD JAN. 16, 1906. J. A. WIG-GS, JB. HYDRAULIC SWIVEL.

APPLICATION HLBD'APR s 1900 z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JAMEsAwIGGs, JR., or BEAUMONT, .rExAs' HYDRAULIC SWIVEL.

To all/'whom it may concern.

ABe it-.known that I, JAMES A. WIGGs, 'J r., a

citizen of the United States, residing at Beaumont, in the county of -.Iederson and State of. Texas, have .invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Swivels and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

' clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to-v zo which it 'appertains to make and'use the same.

` This invention relates-to hydraulic swivels for use in well-boring and similar. work, and;

especially to thatclass or kind of such swivels which employs 'an inner water-tube or .stem turning thereon and carrying the drillv stem attached to its lower end.

The chief objects of the said invention are to `provide more perfectly'for the 'exclusion of dust and foreign matter from the anti-l friction-rollers and bearing-plates whereby theswivel-stem is carried on the trunnionbloclr; to improve the construction and .arrangement of the devices connecting the swivel-stem rotatively to the water-stem and utilize the antifriction-balls thereof as intery locking means of suspension for-the latter stem, not dependingl on friction alone for such service, and said balls being fitted closely by the proximate outer parts to supplyeflitrunnion-block and the drill-.stem coupling, and generally to improve the details of the mechanism, allas hereinafter more particui i mechanism embodying my invention. Fig.

2 represents a plan view'of thebgrooved top ofthe upper stufIing-bx G and the series of bearing-balls, AI which rest in the annular groove of said top. Fi 3 represents perspective detail views 0I the two bearingplates, slightly separated to lshow -their inner construction. 4 represents a detail plan view of the upperbearing-plate.l Fig. 5 represents a detail perspective view of the lower stufling-box.A Fig. 6 represents a vertical central section of a modification of the Waterstem-supporting devices. Fig. 7 represents a detail perspective view of the grooved cap employedin the said modification; andFig. 8 represents a view, similar to Fig. 6, of a furl ther modification. A designates the ordinary suspending-bail Specification of Letters.PatentI Application filed April 3, 1905. I Serial No. 253,563.

`lalso. provided at itsl upper end with externalr A'screw-threads e; F, the usual goosenec'lr,v

water-stem and a concentric tubularswivelcient spacing and bracing` means between the `mainder ofI each ball.

Patented Jan. 16, 190.6.

f a hydraulic swivel; B,the usual tru f onblck, havin trunnions b b held in th eyes of said bail y caplates c and `screws .cj- D, the tubular swive -stempassin through the central boreof the trunnionlock and 6o having its ends externally screw-threaded at d and d; E, thewater-'stem or .water-tube' arranged concentrically within said -swivelstem/.and extending considerably above it,

screwed on these latter threads and ar- .i l ranged to receive the water-supply; G, the

lupper stuflin -box, provided at its open lower endwit internal screwthreads g, whereby it is screwed onupper threads dof theswivel-stem, and having at its upper en d external screw-threads g en aging internal threads h of annular depen in langeahnof screw-cap H, centrally bored to `t the wia r-v j tube protruding u ward through lthe'sa f I, theantifrictionalls arranged in circular series around this water-stem-andbetween thesaid cap and stuffing-box; J, a lock-(nut engaging threadsv d aforesaid and turning up. lagainst the said-stuffing-box; K, the. low Y annular bearing plate or collar d,fastl onth said vt'runnionblock and surrcundingwithe y swivel-stem; L, the` corres enclin y.upper bearing plate or collar, and 1 .the c anfingnut engaging the said threadsdiandho ding @he said up er Plate inv osition` i' As thus fardescribe the' devices' hereinafter mentioned are not new; but I have invented. the following improvements therein:4 The water-stem E is provided with an annular roove E', which receives and fitsthe antiIr'iction-balls I.' The cap H is rovided with an internal. annular' groove at itsl lower edge, also exactly fitting the said balls at 9 5 the upper and outer third or'fourth part oful their circumference, and theupper end of the stuffing-box G is' provided ywith a similar groove G', which receives nearly all the re- When the cap H is roo screwed home, the said balls are held firmly in the roove E, preventing any looseness or rattllng of the proxima-te parts and locking the said water-stem and the said swivelstem at every point `oftheir circumference 105 against endwise movement, vthough permitting independent rotation of the said stuffingbox and the swivel-stem attached thereto,

also the turning of the water-stem independ- 45 The bearing-plateL is provided with a longer though the latter partnormall remains fixed space thus provided.- Q G is much longer thanr a Its interior is filled with a number Aof pack-`4 in -rings 'or washers N, alternating with mev' .in the position shown.

This n ction of the antif'rictlion-balls and grooved water-stem'is of course not dependent on' friction, as in divers constructions heretofore in use 'rotatively connecting the wateres'tern to' attalchments of the swivel-stern, but absolutely prO- hibitsany slip so long asthe balls remain'unbroken. l

To ermit lubrication of the ball-bearin s,

a sha1 ow broad annular recess hZ is left in t eunder face of cap H opposite the upperend of'stuffing-box G and above theengaging screwthreadsv gf 7L. A screw h3' normally closes the' oil-inlet hole h4, the latter having Aa screw-threaded annular wall and extending down throughthe said cap to the lubricating- The stuffing-box those heretofore used for the same. purpose.

ta lic rings or equivalent artitions N the whole vconstituting an ei rior of the said stuffing-box and the exterior Y of the said water-stematall `poi,nts longituapply a `much greater mass of packin dinal as well as circumferential. end of thefswivel-stem is in contact with the lowerplateof this pile, and the turning of said stem or the said stuffing-box tightens the packing by compression, which the said plates transmit with approximate equality throughout the pile. Thus I am enabled Ego e '1 cient in'allits parts than would otherwise be feasible.

The `bearing-plates K and'L 'are not in#l closed by any other part and incur no riskl of peripheral friction therefrom. Plate K is provided outside of the antifriction-rollers with a raised-annular -flange 7c, fitting into an annular groove l in thelower face of plate L, but not quite reaching the inverted bottom of said groove, to avoid needless friction.

corresponding to the' width of the said rooves. These rollers are lar e enough to lgiold the central portions ofv the said plates apart, leaving an annular space n for oil between .the flange 7c and the water-stem. This space is supplied through a fine duct o from an annular oil-groove O in the top of cient composite packing-pile which snuglyfits both the inte- The upperA bearing-plate L, said groove being .normallyl covered by the nut M, and fed, while thus covered, through a duct ntf-in said nut; The upper part of the'wall vof this latter duct is- 'sc'rewfthreaded to receive a lscrew-plug m, closing the same at will.

The trunnion-block the upper end of a spacing and bracing sleeve' P, screwed at its lowerend on the lower threadsdpf swivel-stem D, and at said end contiguous. to the screw-coupling Q, which connects'theA said swivel-stemto the drill- B is in contact with stem or drillltube R; This connection is made by means of internal Vscrew-threads g at the upper end of the said coupling, engaging 'said threads `dof the swivel-stern, and exter'- nal scre`w-threads g at the lower end of the said coupling engaging internal screw-threads r of the u per end of lthe.drill-s',tein. 4The said partsbeing tightened by turning, the` sleeve P is thereby clainped against the said trunnion and with theaid off the nut M holds For lightness the interior of the A blunt-headed vscrew. S is .turned throu h the'said sleeve neanjits upper end against t e said .swivel stern-l and may be used when needed to take up lwear,.said'sc`rew not being .the bearing-plates and their rollers securely, in position. said sleeve is cut away around the-swivel stern nearly from end to end, as shown at p2..

turned tightly enough to impede the rota- .tion of the swivel-stem and drill-stem in boring.

tThe lower end of the swivel-,stem is rovided with'an internal recess T, surroun ing the water-stem E,and the wall thereof is screw-threaded at t' in the mouth of said recess. A'gland U, fitting said water-stem andA externally threaded, engages the threads t and when turned in compresses the packing 'V of the said recess. The Vsaid gland is'provided with peripheral projections W, permitting it to be turnedby a wrench or equivalent tool inserted through the lower end of 'coupling Q,

The modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and the further modification shown in Fig. 8 make use of a collar Xhinternally screw- IIO threaded at and Aengaging screw-threads on the/upper part of the water-stem E, the

stufiing-boxG and capv I-L being providedv y with two opposite annular recesses Y and Y', ,together forming an annular `chamber. or

raceway receiving said collar. This chamber is both wider from innerv to outer face and of reater measurement vertically than said colar to leave foilspac'e' at theperiphery of the' latter and'also under it. In the middle of the periphery of the said collar is an annular roove '2, receiving the inner parts of the anti fiction-balls l, the outer parts of which above andbelow the center are received, as .shown in Fig. 6, `by grooves in the stufiingrbox and cap G H", arranged and constructed as in Fig. 1, but located farther outward on account of the' interposition of said ea he further modification illustrated in Fig. 8 has an exterior metallic band or collar X. concentric with collar X and similarly grooved in its. inner face to receive the outer parts of antifriction-balls I, this outer 'band or collar being-preferably composed of two annular sections divided on the horizontal plane of the centers of tliesaid balls, as indicated by ya division-line in Fig. `8.

The other elements shown in Figs. Gand 8 are substantially identical with those hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1. The operation of the parts is also substantially the saine.

The boring is, as usual, carried on under heavy hydraulic pressure, water being forced down the water-stem E to carry off the inaterial cut away, as well as to aid in the cutting. Of course the back pressure is often very great. IIcnce the'need of holding said stein down to its position by interlocking engagement of parts, as in Figs. 1 and and not trusting to frictional contact only.

.The modifications shown in Fig. 6 4effect this result, as well as the construction shown -in Fig. 1', since the collar X while in use is practically integral-with the water-stem E, though of course separable therefrom by proper turning', and cannot be stripped off except by very great back pressure. Said modifications have the advantage of facilitating repairs, especially when the parts proximate to the antifriction-ballsv I have become worn. The grooving of 4the waterstem itself, as illustrated 'in Fig. 1, requires this part to be made of heavy hydraulic pipe, for which a substitute cannot be 'readily found when in,.use at a great distance from the factory. Transferring the groove to a separable collar permits alighter pipe, with.

correspondingly lighter stuffing-box and cap, to be used. In many instanc'esjthe lsubstitution of anew collar X, with unworn groove,

' will suffice, and there will very seldom be any need to remove the water-stem itself.l Also the decreased massiveness of all the parts will make it much more feasible to execute repairs on the spot or to keep extra caps and stuffing-boxes on hand for substitution as needed.

In all three of these constructions the in# troduction of the packing from below into stuffing-box G makes any additional follower unnecessary, as the upper end of the swivelstem performs this function." The said stuffingbox answers the double function lof holding the said packing on the-water-stem and of forming apart of the devices rotatively connecting said swivel-stem and water-stein Y and suspending the latter locked against vertical moveinent. The packing-of the swivelsteni both ends is necessary, because the water, being under great pressure, would otherthereof and further v per bearingwise `force fragments of stone and .other material in between the said stems, preventing the rotation of the swivel-stem. The general operation is simply that of all such mechanism and has been liereinhefore sufficiently indicated or described.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and. desire to secure by Let- -ters Patent., is-

1. Inea hydraulic swivel, a tubular, suspended water stem, having an annular groove in its exterior near its upper end, in combination with a swivel-stern surrounding the same, means for suspending the said swivel-stein, a series of antifrictioi'i-balls fitting in tliegroove of said water-stem to suspend the same and prevent its endwise displacement, a stuffing-box attached to said swivel-stein andfgro'oved at'the top to fit the said'balls, and a cap screwing down on the said stuffing-box and also grooved to fit the said balls, the grooves in said cap and stuifing-box permitting the said swivel-stem to turn independently on the said water-stein substantially as set forth'.

2. In a hydraulic swivel the combination of a water-steni having an annular groove E with a swivel-stein concentrically arran ed f i thereon, a part screwed on the upper en of 'of the said swivel-steni and having an annular groove G in its top' in proximity to groove E and a cap H screwed on said part thus grooved in its'top, recessed -on its under side above `the screw-threads to provide an oilspace, having aduct and plug for the supply plrovided with a groove H in proximity to t e grooves before mentioned, means for supporting the said'swivellstem and a series of antifriction-balls, fitting in the three grooves aforesaid to connect the said water-stem to the said swivel-stem and permit swiveling motion but suspend the said water-stem from the said swivel-stem and prevent vertical displacement substantially as set forth.-

3. Ina hydraulic swivel, the combination of a water-stem and swivel-stem, concentrically arranged, with a b ail and trunnion for suspending the said swivelstem, a bearingplate mounted on said trunnion and having on its'surfa'ee an annular groove and an annular raised i'iange, antifriction-rollers 1ocated in said groove, an upper bearing-plate provided with a'groove for said' antifriction devices, another groove to receive said iange and a downwardly-extending' fiange outside of the latter and of the body of lower bearing-plate, and means carried by the said swivel-'stem for holding the said uplate in position, the said iianges and the wa ls of the 'groove in the upper bearin .-plate which receives the flange of the lower caring-plate serving Vas dust-guards said IIO

4. In a hydraulic swivel, the combination of a water-stern and a swivel-stem, concentrically arranged, with means for supportin said water-stem from saidsWivel-stem an means for suspending said swivelestem, the latter means including a ofbearing plates and interposed antiriction devices and the said plates being provided with overlappin flanges, independent of any other part o the machine, for excluding dust and other foreign. matter from said antifriction devices substantially as set forth. i

5. In a hydraulic swivel the combination of a water-stem and a swivel-stem, concentr'ically arranged, of means for supportin said water-stem by said swivel-stem, a ha and trunnion-block for suspendin the said swivel-stem, a bearing-plate lixe 0n said trunnion, an u erbearin late turnin on PP P g the same and havin and) trough in: its upper face, whence a,4 uct extends down to its lower face,- a n ut'thre'a'ded` on said swivel? y.

stem provided with an oil-supply duct'for saidy trough and bearing againstsaid upper; f

bearing-p ate to hold it in position 'arida scf ries of antifriction devices interposed'between 1 the said two bearing-plates, the latter being" constructed to leave an oil-space bet'wfeli-ay them about the said antiriction devices and*` provided with means for excluding dust andl other foreign material from the latt'ersubstantially as set forth.

6. In a hydraulic swivel, the combination of a water-stem and-a swivel-stem, concentrically arranged, with means connecting the stems but al owing the swiveling action, a

Ibail and trunnion-block provided Withantifriction devicesand bearing-plates; forsusf pending the said swivel-stem, 'and a spaclngsleeve'screwed on the said swivel-stem for' 7. In a hydraulic swivel, the combination l ofk a water-stem and a swivel-stein, concentrically arranged, of means for connecting said stems to ether but allowing swiveling action, abloc sleeved on .said swivel-stem and provided with means forsuspending the latter, fa sleeve in contact with the under side *of* said block, a screw-threaded couplin arran edto hold said sleeve against said b ock andga'de endin tubular stem connected to saidcouping su4 stantially as set forth.

Inftestimony whereof I have signed my K ame v11o-this specification in the presence 0f twosubscribing witnesses. 'Y JAMES A. WIGGS. JR. rfWitnesses CHAs. H. SMITH,

BEN. G. N EvlLLE. 

